#1/#1 CONNECTICUT Huskies 36 – 0 (20-0 Big East, Reg. Season and Tournament Champ)
NCAA NET #1 (UNC #19); NCAA WAB #4 (UNC 15); SOS (NCAA) #45 (UNC 31)
Massey Rating 1, (UNC 14); RPI 4 (Nolan) (UNC 15); Torvik 1 (UNC 16)
The identity of #15/#15 Carolina’s next opponent in the Sweet 16 is none other than UConn. It is exactly what was expected when the brackets were revealed. It is always the fate of the 4/5 seeds, which is why some favor a 6 seed even though a 4 seed gets to host. If the NCAA follows its own guidelines, Carolina as a #4 seed would be the lowest ranked of the 4-seeds. The others, with their AP rank and NET are Minnesota (18, 9), West Virginia (11,18) and Oklahoma (10,10). It would seem from this that the seedings are fair.
Our game tomorrow is at the 14,000 seat Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. I have a pair of sweat sox from Dickies. The Huskies are favored by 17 (Massey) by 17 (Nolan) and by Torvik 19.
UNC is 5 - 9 all time with UConn. Until 2007, the record stood at 5-2 for UNC. Since then, it has been all UConn, as they have won seven in a row. 2024’s game, played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in CT, was a 76-64 win by the Huskies, who used just 8 players. Maria Gakdeng had a double-double for UNC with 14 and 13. The game had been tied 36-36 at the half. The 2025 game had UConn winning 69-58 at Greensboro. Indya Nivar had 15 points and Ciera Toomey 10. Geno Auriemma contacted Coach Banghart to suggest their home-and-away series be resurrected. Coach CB, who does not shy away from a challenge, agreed.
It is interesting that UConn thinks the record is 9-4, as they do not count the game played in Jan 1980, a game won by UNC by 33 points 84-51. Wonder why they don’t count it.
Azzi Fudd did not play in either of the last two games. She suffered a serious knee injury (ACL) two games into the 2024 season, and did not return until the 4th game of 2025, just missing the UNC game. Who did not miss either game was Paige Bueckers, who had 29 and 29 points.
UConn has gone 36-0 this year. A recount of all 36 games is not necessary; they easily defeated all comers including ACC members Louisville, FSU, and Notre Dame as well as ranked teams such as #6 Michigan, #16 USC, #11 Iowa, and #15 Tennessee.
For most of the season, UConn has kept a starting lineup of 5-11 GS G Fudd (17.8/2.6); Sarah Strong, a 6-2 sophomore F (18.4/7.5); Ashlynn Shade, a 5-10 junior G (7.9/3.5); KK Arnold, a 5-9 junior G (7.3/2.2) and Serah Williams, a 6-4 senior F (7.0/4.4) who was a three year starter for Wisconsin. All of these were McDonald’s AAs (UConn has nine total) except Williams, who’s Canadian. KK Arnold leads in assists.
Unlike many past Husky teams, this one has depth: nine players average over 10 minutes per game. They also shoot threes, led by Azzi Fudd (45.4% on 113/249), Sarah Strong (41.9% on 57/186), and Ashlyn Shade (34.3% on 47 of 137). If you’re interested, Azzi Fudd is named for former Stanford great Jennifer Azzi. Of further interest is that Sarah Strong has just been named USBWA National Player of the Year. In addition to being UConn’s leading scorer and rebounder, she also leads the team in steals and blocks.
Other players may appear. They may include Freshman Blanca Quiñonez, a 6-2 F from Ecuador who averages 10.4 ppg; Jana El Alfy, a 6-5 RSo C from Egypt (4.2 ppg); Allie Ziebel, a 6-0 sophomore G (7.7 ppg but another three point threat at 41.7% on 58 of 139) and Kayleigh Heckel, a 5-9 sophomore G (7.1 ppg).
Fans will certainly have seen the results of UConn’s most recent game, their second round match with Syracuse. The Huskies totally crushed the Orange, turning them into juice with a first half score of 65-12. It may be of some comfort to the ‘Cuse that they held the Husky reserves to an even 33-33 score in the second half.
If this Husky team has any weakness it is hard to see what it might be. If Carolina is to compete, they will need a near-perfect outing. That would mean a FG percentage nearing 50%, including 35-40% in threes (and not the pathetic 5.6% Syracuse shot), no more than 10 turnovers and keep the rebounding within 5 boards or so in margin.
I have said before that making the Sweet Sixteen is no small accomplishment, since it would rank among the top 4.4% of all D-1 women’s programs. Of course, no team wants to be humiliated as Syracuse was, or for that matter as UNC was in January 2012, when they lost to UConn in Storrs by 51 points (35-86); still the worst loss in program history and one that prompted Coach Sylvia Hatchell to decide that there would be no more home-and-away with the Huskies – ever. And, so there were not during the rest of her tenure.
The coaching situation at UConn is well known by all. For the last 41 years, it has been Luigi “Geno” Auriemma, with a record of 1,286 – 165 (88.6%) and 11 NCAA Championships. He is a member of both the Naismith and WB Halls of Fame. His associate HC is Chris Dailey, who has been at UConn for the entire Auriemma reign.
If tomorrow turns out as the prophets predict our last game this season, it should be remembered that this was a pretty successful season, all things considered. UNC won 28 games. In the ACC that doesn’t happen unless you have quality on the court and quality on the sideline. UNC had both. They finished third in conference, earning a double bye, and were given a hosting slot in the NCAA. They reached the Sweet Sixteen. If we lose, let’s try to not have any nonsense along the “we need a new coach” line. It’s just annoying.
Game time is Friday 5 PM and ESPN will carry the game nationally. There will be a radio link from GoHeels with Matt Krause doing the play-by.
NCAA NET #1 (UNC #19); NCAA WAB #4 (UNC 15); SOS (NCAA) #45 (UNC 31)
Massey Rating 1, (UNC 14); RPI 4 (Nolan) (UNC 15); Torvik 1 (UNC 16)
The identity of #15/#15 Carolina’s next opponent in the Sweet 16 is none other than UConn. It is exactly what was expected when the brackets were revealed. It is always the fate of the 4/5 seeds, which is why some favor a 6 seed even though a 4 seed gets to host. If the NCAA follows its own guidelines, Carolina as a #4 seed would be the lowest ranked of the 4-seeds. The others, with their AP rank and NET are Minnesota (18, 9), West Virginia (11,18) and Oklahoma (10,10). It would seem from this that the seedings are fair.
Our game tomorrow is at the 14,000 seat Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. I have a pair of sweat sox from Dickies. The Huskies are favored by 17 (Massey) by 17 (Nolan) and by Torvik 19.
UNC is 5 - 9 all time with UConn. Until 2007, the record stood at 5-2 for UNC. Since then, it has been all UConn, as they have won seven in a row. 2024’s game, played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in CT, was a 76-64 win by the Huskies, who used just 8 players. Maria Gakdeng had a double-double for UNC with 14 and 13. The game had been tied 36-36 at the half. The 2025 game had UConn winning 69-58 at Greensboro. Indya Nivar had 15 points and Ciera Toomey 10. Geno Auriemma contacted Coach Banghart to suggest their home-and-away series be resurrected. Coach CB, who does not shy away from a challenge, agreed.
It is interesting that UConn thinks the record is 9-4, as they do not count the game played in Jan 1980, a game won by UNC by 33 points 84-51. Wonder why they don’t count it.
Azzi Fudd did not play in either of the last two games. She suffered a serious knee injury (ACL) two games into the 2024 season, and did not return until the 4th game of 2025, just missing the UNC game. Who did not miss either game was Paige Bueckers, who had 29 and 29 points.
UConn has gone 36-0 this year. A recount of all 36 games is not necessary; they easily defeated all comers including ACC members Louisville, FSU, and Notre Dame as well as ranked teams such as #6 Michigan, #16 USC, #11 Iowa, and #15 Tennessee.
For most of the season, UConn has kept a starting lineup of 5-11 GS G Fudd (17.8/2.6); Sarah Strong, a 6-2 sophomore F (18.4/7.5); Ashlynn Shade, a 5-10 junior G (7.9/3.5); KK Arnold, a 5-9 junior G (7.3/2.2) and Serah Williams, a 6-4 senior F (7.0/4.4) who was a three year starter for Wisconsin. All of these were McDonald’s AAs (UConn has nine total) except Williams, who’s Canadian. KK Arnold leads in assists.
Unlike many past Husky teams, this one has depth: nine players average over 10 minutes per game. They also shoot threes, led by Azzi Fudd (45.4% on 113/249), Sarah Strong (41.9% on 57/186), and Ashlyn Shade (34.3% on 47 of 137). If you’re interested, Azzi Fudd is named for former Stanford great Jennifer Azzi. Of further interest is that Sarah Strong has just been named USBWA National Player of the Year. In addition to being UConn’s leading scorer and rebounder, she also leads the team in steals and blocks.
Other players may appear. They may include Freshman Blanca Quiñonez, a 6-2 F from Ecuador who averages 10.4 ppg; Jana El Alfy, a 6-5 RSo C from Egypt (4.2 ppg); Allie Ziebel, a 6-0 sophomore G (7.7 ppg but another three point threat at 41.7% on 58 of 139) and Kayleigh Heckel, a 5-9 sophomore G (7.1 ppg).
Fans will certainly have seen the results of UConn’s most recent game, their second round match with Syracuse. The Huskies totally crushed the Orange, turning them into juice with a first half score of 65-12. It may be of some comfort to the ‘Cuse that they held the Husky reserves to an even 33-33 score in the second half.
If this Husky team has any weakness it is hard to see what it might be. If Carolina is to compete, they will need a near-perfect outing. That would mean a FG percentage nearing 50%, including 35-40% in threes (and not the pathetic 5.6% Syracuse shot), no more than 10 turnovers and keep the rebounding within 5 boards or so in margin.
I have said before that making the Sweet Sixteen is no small accomplishment, since it would rank among the top 4.4% of all D-1 women’s programs. Of course, no team wants to be humiliated as Syracuse was, or for that matter as UNC was in January 2012, when they lost to UConn in Storrs by 51 points (35-86); still the worst loss in program history and one that prompted Coach Sylvia Hatchell to decide that there would be no more home-and-away with the Huskies – ever. And, so there were not during the rest of her tenure.
The coaching situation at UConn is well known by all. For the last 41 years, it has been Luigi “Geno” Auriemma, with a record of 1,286 – 165 (88.6%) and 11 NCAA Championships. He is a member of both the Naismith and WB Halls of Fame. His associate HC is Chris Dailey, who has been at UConn for the entire Auriemma reign.
If tomorrow turns out as the prophets predict our last game this season, it should be remembered that this was a pretty successful season, all things considered. UNC won 28 games. In the ACC that doesn’t happen unless you have quality on the court and quality on the sideline. UNC had both. They finished third in conference, earning a double bye, and were given a hosting slot in the NCAA. They reached the Sweet Sixteen. If we lose, let’s try to not have any nonsense along the “we need a new coach” line. It’s just annoying.
Game time is Friday 5 PM and ESPN will carry the game nationally. There will be a radio link from GoHeels with Matt Krause doing the play-by.
